Tony Stewart will not race at Plymouth Speedway on Aug. 16, the speedway announced Monday. (Mike McCarn, The Associated Press)

Thursday afternoon Stewart-Haas Racing announced that Tony Stewart will not race in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway. Jeff Burton will sub for Stewart in the No. 14 car.

On Saturday, Stewart was racing in a sprint car race at a New York dirt track when Stewart’s car hit and killed Kevin Ward Jr., 20. Stewart pulled out of last weekend’s race at Watkins Glen and cancelled all future sprint car races.

He released a statement Sunday that said: “There aren’t words to describe the sadness I feel about the accident that took the life of Kevin Ward Jr. It’s a very emotional time for all involved, and it is the reason I’ve decided not to participate in today’s race at Watkins Glen. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and everyone affected by this tragedy.”

Currently, Stewart is not facing any criminal charges. The Ontario County Sheriff Department said an investigation could take up to two weeks to complete.

Ward’s funeral was held today at South Lewis High School in Turin, N.Y.

Furniture Row Racing’s driver doesn’t get the recognition road course kings like Jeff Gordon and Marcos Ambrose get, but Martin Truex Jr. holds his own on road courses. Sunday, Truex will get his chance to shine as the Sprint Cup Series travels to the road course Watkins Glen International for the Cheez-It 355.

During a conference call Wednesday, Truex said he looks forward to road course races every year and that Sunday’s race will offer a chance to turn things around. Truex’s average finish at Watkins Glen is 12th and his best finish is third, which he ran last year. Currently the Sprint Cup series only races at two road courses (Sonoma Raceway is the other), but Truex said he would be in favor of adding more.

A solid run at Sunday’s race will help Truex begin to turn around a dismal year. So far he’s had only three top-10 finishes and is 26th in points, far from the top-16 Chase Grid cutoff. His best finish this season was sixth, at Dover in June.

Martin Truex Jr climbs into his car before the second of two NASCAR Sprint Cup series qualifying auto races at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., in February. (John Raoux, The Associated Press)

If Martin Truex Jr. and the Furniture Row Racing team want to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup they need a win sooner rather than later. The Sprint Cup Series reaches the halfway point this week with the Coke Zero 400 at the Daytona International Speedway.

The last time Truex raced at Daytona was in the season opening Daytona 500. He qualified second but had trouble on lap 30 when a broken oil pump caused his engine to expire. He finished 43rd.

When I talked with general manager Joe Garone two weeks ago he said he felt like Daytona was a race where Truex could find that elusive win.

It would be a happy birthday for Martin Truex Jr. on Sunday if he could win at Kentucky Speedway.

Truex, who will turn 34 Sunday, sits 25th in the Sprint Cup points with an average finish of 21.5 this season.

“Right now it’s going to be a victory that will get us into the Chase, not where we stand in points,” Truex said in a statement. “I feel Kentucky is a track that can deliver that elusive win. Without question, that would be the best birthday present.”

With the new points system implemented this year, the best chance for Truex Jr. to make the Chase for the Cup is a win. This year, the top 15 drivers with the most wins advance to what is now called the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chase Grid. The 16th spot goes to the points leader after race 26 if they don’t have a win.

During the last two races at Kentucky, Truex had two top-10 finishes. His average finish in three Cup starts at the 1 1/2-mile oval is 11.0.

The No. 78 Furniture Row Racing team is still looking for its first win this season. Qualifying for the Sprint Cup Series is on Friday at 3:40 p.m.

I believe so. I wouldn’t be surprised if Tony Stewart tried it. Maybe even Jeff Gordon. Or Danica Patrick. But, I think it can only be done by someone younger than Stewart or Gordon and someone with more experience and history of success than Patrick.

Maybe someone who is use to driving Nationwide, Trucks and Sprint Cup back to back. Someone who has proven he can win more than one race on the same weekend. My bet: Kyle Busch.

True, he’s never driven an Indy car that I know of. True, he’s a jerk. Not that being jerk matters. I just threw that in. But, I believe if it’s possible, he could do it. He’s just hard-headed enough to believe he could win in an Indy car. And he has plenty of time to get some experience on that circuit if he sets his mind on trying this.

(Getty Images)

I hate to admit it, but I think he’s talented enough to pull it off. Now I know how many fans felt in the good ol’ days of NASCAR. So many hated D.W., but had to admit he was a great driver. Then came Earnhardt and many people felt the same way about him. Only toward the end of his career did he become beloved. Then Little Jeffy appeared. Another driver easy to hate, but boy could he drive.

And then there was Kyle. He could make history. Would that change how I feel about him? Probably not.

On NHRA.com, National Dragster editor Phil Burgess, inspired by the recent death of Scott Kalitta no doubt, has an excellentl salute to “those who raced a little ahead of the rest of us to the finish line and left us too soon, by the hands of time, nature, or fate.” To read the entire article click here and scroll down to the July 7, 2008 entry. …

NASCAR Sprint Cup series is taking the week off before the Brickyard 400 July 27 at Indy. I can’t stop gushing about Kyle Busch. The move he made on Jimmie Johnson to win last Saturday night’s race at Chicago was classic and way too good for someone so young. We may be seeing something really special. …

A colleague and her family members attended the Saturday night races at Colorado National Speedway last week and reported having a ball. There was something for everyone and CNS provided a great family atmosphere as usual. True racing fans and those just learning about the sport can’t find better entertainment than the Saturday night show. Give it a try. …

Drag racer Doug Herbert’s B.R.A.K.E.S. foundation (Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe) is a great cause and worthy of contributions from everyone who’s able. Herbert started the foundation to honor his two sons who were killed in an auto accident earlier this year. …

I’m really excited about the new Dodge Challenger due out later this year. It’s specially prepared for drag racing and the NHRA has already signed off on it. I understand it’ll be eligible to race in Comp, Super Stock and Stock with multiple engine and transmission options and is expected to cost in the $30,000-35,000 range. A great idea. Click here for video of the car in action and more details. …

I roamed around the pits at Bandimere for about a hour after Friday night’s Mile High races to avoid as much traffic as possible and you wouldn’t believe the number of drivers staying late to sign autographs. Of course, John and Ashley Force attracted the biggest crowds and they were still signing and posing for photorgraphs when I finally left. No other sport can match the NHRA in this way. …